The roar of the crowd, the flashing lights, the immense pressure of a global stage – the Riyadh Masters 2025 has been a crucible for Dota 2`s elite. For PARIVISION`s mid-lane maestro, Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, the dream of hoisting the trophy ended abruptly in the semifinals against the formidable Team Spirit. What followed was a candid, almost raw, post-match interview that peeled back the veneer of competitive stoicism, revealing the human side of esports defeat.
“It wasn`t what we expected. I truly believed we would win,” Satanic confessed, the sting of the 0:2 loss palpable in his words.
The sentiment is a familiar echo in competitive circles: the pre-match confidence, the meticulous preparation, only to be met by the harsh reality of an opponent`s superior execution.
The Haunting `Highground Throw` of Game Two
While the first game`s draft was deemed challenging by Satanic, it was the second game that truly haunted PARIVISION. “We absolutely, 100% should have won the second game,” he asserted. The narrative of near-victory turned into a self-inflicted wound centered around a critical highground push. “I don`t know why we went highground. We simply forgot our concept,” Satanic lamented. This self-critique points to a lapse in a core strategic principle:
“We talked so much about simply over-farming them, accumulating the maximum advantage we could.”
The unraveling continued. A misplay involving a Lotus Orb on his Death Prophet, intended to secure a kill, instead led to his demise at the hands of Spirit`s “Collapse” (Magomed Khalilov), who, in Satanic’s own words, “just burst Death Prophet down.” The sequence spiraled into a team wipe, turning a dominant position into a precarious 50/50 struggle. One can almost hear the collective sigh of frustration from PARIVISION`s coaching staff at such a pivotal moment.
The Elusive Hand of “Luck” in Dota 2
When pressed on whether luck played a role for Team Spirit, Satanic didn`t mince words.
“Of course, there was luck. Dota is a game about luck, not just skill,” he stated, citing instances like a Nature`s Prophet escaping with a sliver of health.
While many armchair analysts might dismiss this as a mere rationalization for defeat, there`s a kernel of truth in the assertion. Dota 2, with its intricate mechanics, vast hero pool, and dynamic map, often throws unpredictable variables into the mix. A critical stun missing by milliseconds, a timely rune spawn, or indeed, a hero surviving with 0.1 HP can fundamentally alter the course of a game. To deny the role of fortune, however slight, would be to ignore the beautiful chaos inherent in the sport. Yet, as any seasoned competitor knows, the truly great players find ways to mitigate bad luck and capitalize on good fortune.
The Primal Beast and the Collapse Phenomenon
Intriguingly, Satanic dismissed the idea that Nature`s Prophet, picked by Team Spirit in both games, was PARIVISION`s nemesis.
“Nature`s Prophet wasn`t the problem; we just threw ourselves,” he clarified, emphasizing that their own errors, not the opponent`s draft, were their undoing in Game 2.
Instead, the true bane of PARIVISION`s existence in the semifinals was Team Spirit`s offlaner, Collapse, and his Primal Beast. “Primal Beast did so much in the game – he stole Aegis twice, and he was killing everyone,” Satanic admitted, a grudging respect perhaps seeping through. “Collapse just entered the zone and won – good for him.” This acknowledgment, coming from a direct competitor in the heat of defeat, speaks volumes about Collapse`s performance. It’s a testament to the fact that even in the agony of loss, professional players often retain an objective appreciation for genuine brilliance.
PARIVISION`s journey at Riyadh Masters 2025 isn`t entirely over; they are set to compete for third place. While the ultimate prize eludes them this time, Satanic`s honest reflections provide a rare glimpse into the mental fortitude required in esports. It`s a world where strategy meets split-second decisions, where meticulously planned plays can crumble under unforeseen circumstances, and where the line between “skill” and “luck” remains a perpetually fascinating, if occasionally infuriating, topic of debate. The game, after all, continues.
Gilbert Pendleton